Side Effects of Tobrex (tobramycin)

Tobrex (tobramycin) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic eye drop prescribed for a variety of bacterial infections of the eye. 

Tobrex, like other aminoglycoside antibiotics, targets various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Targeted organisms include: 

• Staphylococcus aureus,
• Staphylococcus epidermidis,
• Streptococci,
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
• Escherichia coli,
• Klebsiella pneumoniae,
• Enterobacter aerogenes,
• Proteus mirabilis,
• Morganella morganii,
• Proteus vulgaris (most strains),
• Haemophilus influenzae,
• Haemophilus aegyptius,
• Moraxella lacunata,
• Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and
• some Neisseria species. 

Side effects of Tobrex are rare and may include sensitivity reactions including:

• swelling and itching of the eyelid, and
• eye redness.

There are no known drug interactions with Tobrex ophthalmic solution. 

There is no evidence of harm to a fetus in animal studies with systemic Tobrex use; no direct studies in humans have been conducted. Blood levels are undetectable after ophthalmic Tobrex use. 

Tobrex ophthalmic solution is not absorbed into the body at detectable levels, and therefore is not expected to be present in breast milk. However, breastfeeding is not recommended due to the potential for adverse effects in the infant.

Side effects are rare. Less than 1% report sensitivity reactions including swelling and itching of the eyelid, and reddening of the eye (conjunctiva).

The most frequent adverse reactions to Tobrex (tobramycin ophthalmic ointment) 0.3% are hypersensitivity and localized ocular toxicity, including:

• lid itching and swelling, and
• conjunctival erythema.

These reactions occur in less than three of 100 patients treated with Tobrex (tobramycin ophthalmic ointment) 0.3%. Similar reactions may occur with the topical use of other aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Other adverse reactions have not been reported from Tobrex (tobramycin ophthalmic ointment) 0.3% therapy; however, if topical ocular tobramycin is administered concomitantly with systemic aminoglycoside antibiotics, care should be taken to monitor the total serum concentration.

In clinical trials, Tobrex (tobramycin ophthalmic ointment) 0.3% produced significantly fewer adverse reactions (3.7%) than did Garamycin Ophthalmic Ointment (10.6%).

No information provided.